Parasiticidal composition



Patented Aug. 12, 1941 um'reo STATES PATENT OFFICE PAItASITICffZZifiMPOSITION Joseph N. Borglin, Wilmington, DeL, assignor to Hercules Powder Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing.

16 Claim. This invention relates to an improved parasiticide composition and more particularly to animproved parasiticide composition containing a terpin lower fatty acid ester.

- secticidai sprays low in odor.

It is a still further object to enhance greatly by activation the eflectiveness of the expensive plant body toxic agents such as rotenone, pyrethrum extract, etc.

The composition in accordance with this invention will comprise a terpin lower fatty acid ester and a diluent which may be another insecticide, an inert carrier material or a mixture oi another insecticide and an inert carrier. The

, terpin lower fatty acid ester may be, for example, terpin diacetate, terpin dipropionate, terpin dihutyrate, etc., or it may be a chemically mixed ester such as terpin aceto-butyrate, terpin acetopropionate, terpin butyropropionate, etc. The esters of any of the terpinformali. e. 1:8 terpin or 1:4 terpin, may be utilized.

The inert carrier selected for use'in the composition according to this invention may be varied depending upon the method of application by which, and the purpose for which, the composition will be ultimately used The composition in accordance with this invention can be used in the form of a spray, a dusting powder or as a paint or gum. The inert carrier used in a composition intended for application as a spray will be a liquid of the type commonly used as a carrier liquid in parasiticide compositions such as, for example, water, suitable petroleum hydrocarbons, etc., as ordinary or deodorized kerosene, etc. Moderately volatile liquids are usually preferred as carriers for sprays. The inert carrier used in compositions .intended for application as a dust will be a finely divided solid of the type commonly used as a carrier for insecticidal dusts such as, for example, talc, colloidal clays, Bentonite, iullers earth, sulphur, etc. The carrier in compositions intended for use as a paint or gum may be a natural or residual asphalt.

Compositions for application as a spray may Application August 17, 1939, Serial No. 290,634

and in the claims. A typical composition of this type will consist of the terpin ester dissolvedin deodorized kerosene, the terpin ester being in an amount within the range of about 0.5% to about 75% by weight of the composition.

Compositions for application as a spray may also be utilized in the form of an aqueous emul-' sion; Such compositions will comprise the terpin lower fatty acid ester which may be either emulsified directly in water or dissolved in a water-immiscible solvent with or without other parasiticldal agents, and the solution thus formed emulsified in water. -Such emulsions will desirably contain emulsifying agents such as. for example, a soap, a sulfonated oil, etc. They may be prepared in completely finished form at the point of manufacture or they may be prepared in the form of a concentrate comprising the terpin ester and an emulsifying agent, and then diluted and emulsified with water at the point of application, thus avoiding the unnecessary packaging, transportation and handling of water. Emulsiiied compositions of this type are advantageous for the destruction of parasites attacking horticultural plants such as, ior ex ample, the various kinds of plant lice, mealy-hugs, thrips, aphids, the various kinds of scale, etc.. all of which are included in the term "parasite",

which gives rise to the term "parasiticidal, as

used herein and in the claims. I

The parasiticide compositions in accordance with this invention may also be used for the destruction of insects which attack agricultural or-horticultural plants in the form of insecticidal dust. Terpin diacetate or other lower iatty acid ester, either alone or admixed with other toxic insecticidal materials, will be thoroughly admixed, for example, by trituration, with a powdered solid material of the type commonly used for insecticidal dusts to produce such an insecticidal dust. A typical composition of this type is, for example, talc, groundto 200 mesh and incorporated with from about 0.5% to about 45% by weight of the terpin ester. Similarly the terpin ester may be incorporated with comminuted derris root, cube root, tobacco, timbo root, pyrethrum flowers, etc. The quantity of the terpin ester incorporated into the insecticidal dust 'is limited only by the ability oi the dust to absorb it without caking, i. e., ground Kerosene i cube root can absorb up to about 45% terpin ester without caking.

The lower fatty acid esters of terpin have the property of activating'other parasiticidal materials. This is especially noticeable when they are used to activate toxic extracts such as from pyrethrum flowers, derris root, cube root, tobaoco, etc., i. e. pyrethrins, 'rotenone, nicotine compounds, etc. Many-'of these toxic agents have a fairly good stunning power without the ability to impart by themselves a satisfactory high kill of the insects acted upon. When terpin lower fatty acid esters are added thereto, a high killing power results, all out of proportion with the killing power of the components taken separately.

The terpin ester. terpin diacetate, for example, which I utilize may be prepared by reacting terpin, conveniently 1:8 terpin, with acetic anhydride in the presence of sodium acetate or other suitable. catalyst at a temperature, within the range of about 60 C. to about 175 C. by the process disclosed and claimed in the copending application of J. N. Borglin, Ser. No. 267,913, filed April 14, 1939. The preparation of other lower fatty acid esters in an analogous manner is also disclosed therein.

The compositions in accordance with this invention are further illustrated by the formulae for compositions suitable for application as a spray, given in Table l which follows:

ferent samples of terpin esters to house flies as measured by the Peet-Grady test:

Table 4 gives data as to the toxicity to house flies by the Feet-Grady test -of insecticides concomparison, similar data is given for the National Association of Insecticide and Disinfectant Manufacturers Ofllcial Test Insecticide, which consists of pyrethrum in deorderized kerosene The terpin diacetate insecticides listed in Table 4 were made simply by adding the specifled quantity of terpin diacetate to the Ofiiclal Test Insecticide.

Table 1 I 'II III IV V VI VII VIII IX Terplnloweriattyacid Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent 1 ester]. i 10 5 6 5 6 me Oi Glycol ether of pinene.

In the above compositions HI and VII, the sodium oieate functions to disperse the waterimmiscible parasiticides in water. Other emulsifying agents .which may be used for this purpose are, for example, the alkali metal salts of the higher alkyl sulfates, as, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium oleyl sulfate, etc., the alkali metal salts of sulfated abietyl or hydroabietyl alcohol, sulfonated pinene-phenol condensate, alkali metal resinates, such as sodium rosinate, etc., other alkali metal soaps, as sodium palmitate; sodium stearate,. etc.

Example of insecticidal powders in accordance with this invention are shown in Table 2 which follows:

Table 3 shows data as to the toxicity of dif- Table 4 Toxicity to house flies as measured by the Peel.- Insecticide Grady Knocked Deal] in down 24 hours Official test insecticide (pyrethmm extract in deodorized kerosene) 96 24 Official test insecticide plus 2.5% terpin discetate 98 49. 8 Ofgleigal test insecticide plus 3% terpin discea 99 66 Official test insecticide plus 6% terpin diaoetate 99 63. 5

greater than what would be obtained by the addition of the killing power of the two components taken separately. The terpin diacetate thus has an unexpected activating influence upon pyrethrum. the reason for which is not known. Similar activation occurs with rotenone, nicotine and the like and, in fact, so no as is known, with any contact parastiticide, including not only those existing in or extracted irom plant bddiesbut the various-mthetic agents such as the various thiocyanates, etc.

Activation is also brought about by other lower Table Pest-Grady toxicity test Knocked down Dead in 24 hours 8 my (A) pyrethrum extract in deodorized Per cent Percent erosene 99 g 46 Spray (B) 3% terpin dipropionate added to sprs (A) 99 67. 4

Spray (B) rates as a Grade AA insecticide or better. The eflect oi the small addition of terpin dipropionate is chiefly by reason of its activation of the pyrethrum.

The parastiticides in accordance with this invention have the advantage oi very low odor. at most a slight, sweet, ester odor. In this respect they are superior to parasiticides containing organic sulphur compounds, which have a mercaptan odor. Further, they do not irritate the eyes or nose when sprayed and have, so tar as is known, no eflect upon human beings, in ordinary use.

The low odor, which is for practical purposes no odor at all, and the complete absence oi any irritational effect upon humans combined with the low cost, infinite miscibility in kerosene, stability, and absence of sludge formation or the terpin lower fatty acid esters, makes possible an unusually wide range 01 formulation 01 parasiticides. The quantity of active agent in the composition can be varied very widely according to the specific purpose of the material without encountering the usual limitations 01 insolubility, odor, and irritation. Thus, instead of the usual limitation of active ingredient in sprays 1 to 10%, the terpin iatty acid esters may be used in any quantity, say up to 50 or 75%.

It will be appreciated that the examples given hereinbeiore represent simple formulations given in illustration. The common practice oi usin several diiierent toxic agents in a single parasiticide to obtain maximum effectiveness for a wide variety oi parasites may be followed in preparing compositions containing terpin lower fatty acid esters. The activating properties of the terpin esters are of particular value in such all-purpose compositions.

It will be understood that the details and examples given hereinbeiore are illustrative only and in no way limiting on my invention as described broadly hereinbeiore and in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An insecticidal composition comprising a terpin lower fatty acid ester and a. diluent.

2. An insecticidal composition comprising a terpin lower fatty acidester supported on a flnely divided solid.

3: An insecticidal composition .comprising a terpin lower fatty acid ester supported on a fluely divided solid from the group consisting of comminuted derris root, cube root, tobacco. timbo root, and pyrethrum flowers. 4

4. An insecticidal composition comprising a terpin diacetate and a finely-divided solid irom the group consisting of comminuted derris root, cube root, tobacco, timbo root, and pyrethrum flowers.

5. An insecticidal composition comprising a terpin lower fatty acid ester and an inert carrier liquid. i

6. An insecticidal composition comprising a terpin lower iatty acid ester, a toxic ingredient extracted from a plant body oi the group consisting of derris root, cube root, timbo root, tobacco, and pyrethrum flowers, and a liquid petroleum fraction.

7. An insecticidal composition comprising a terpin diacetate, toxic ingredient extracted from a plant body or the group consisting of derris root, cube root, timbo root, tobacco, and pyrethrum flowers, and a liquid petroleum fraction.

8. An insecticidal composition comprising a terpin diacetate, toxic ingredients extracted from pyrethrum flowers, and a suitable liquid petroleum fraction.

9. .An insecticidal composition comprising 1:8 terpin diacetate, toxic ingredients extracted from pyrethrum flowers, and a suitable liquid petroleum fraction.

10. An insecticidal composition comprising a terpin dipropionate, a toxic ingredient extracted from a plant body of the group consisting of derris root, cube root, timbo root, tobacco, and pyrethrum flowers, and a liquid petroleum fraction.

11. An insecticidal composition comprising a terpin dipropionate, toxic ingredients extracted from pyrethrum flowers, and a suitable liquid petroleum iraction.

12. An insectidal composition comprising 1:8 terpin dipropionate, toxic ingredients extracted irom pyrethrum flowers, and a suitable liquid petroleum traction. I

13. An insecticidal composition comprising a terpin lower fatty acid ester, a toxic ingredient extracted from a plant body of the group consisting of derris root. cube root, timbo root, tobacco, and pyrethrum flowers and an inert carrier liquid.

14. An insecticidal composition comprising a terpin diacetate, toxic ingredients extracted from pyrethrum flowers, and an inert carrier liquid.

15. An insecticidal composition comprising a terpin lower fatty acid ester, rotenone, and an inert carrier liquid.

16. An insecticidal composition comprising a terpin diacetate, rotenone, and an inert carrier liquid.

JOSEPH N. noaenm.

I crznzrimcmm or coamcnon, Patent no. 2,252, hg. Y 7 August 12, 19th.

' JOSEPH N. BORGLIN.

It is hereby certified that error eppeara-in the printed specification of the above nmfibered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, sec- 0nd column, line 25, for the syllable "con-" read containing pyrethrqin and terpin diac etate. Forpage 5, second colxmm, line 148, claim 12, for "ina ectidal" read w-insecticidal"; and that the an; Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of September, A. D. 191 1 Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

